Romani Herbs Part 2

Cabbage: highly regarded by the Rom, it's germ killing and anti-inflammatory properties being well known. Leaves were bound on wounds,boils, abscesses, and sores. Crushed cabbage leaves were applied to bites and stings of insects. Arthritis and rheumatism, muscle aches and menstrual cramps called for an application of hot cabbage leaves, as did also sore throats. Cabbage water is good for preventing nightmares and stomach infections. These same properties can be found in sauerkraut as the cabbage enzymes are preserved in the fermentation.

Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus): The juice is rubbed on warts and corns, to remove them. Very effective,but mix with a little vinegar first and use sparingly.

Chamomile: Very strong antiseptic,the smell of which repels bees and biting insects. An infusion is used to a tonic and cure for flatulence,digestive problems. Relieves nausea and diarrhea. Helpful for babies with colic and teething pain. Being an effective sedative, the tea should not be drunk to excess. Flowers made into a paste can be used to treat skin ulcers, infections, rashes, and burns. For asthma it is smoked like tobacco.

Chervil: Used raw as digestive,diuretic,and expectorant. Use only young, green leaves. Cut fine with a knife... Do not chop!

Chestnut: Leaves were used in a tincture to treat chilblains, eczema,and rheumatism.

Chickweed: Very valuable plant. Stems were cooked and given to children that were undernourished to gain strength. Also used for rheumatism and cramps. Being potent, it is never used in large doses. It can sometimes cause mild temporary paralysis.

Chicory: The root made into a tonic is bitter digestive that increases bile flow and eases inflammation. The roasted root is used as coffee substitute and additive. An excellent tonic for the liver, and cleansing the urinary tract. Used as a mild laxative for children.

Red clover: A tea was made of the dried flowers to make a tonic for indigestion, headache, nausea, neuralgia, and bronchitis. Also used as a sedative for nervous complaints. Poultices are used to treat ulcers and sores. The dried flowers mixed with coltsfoot are used as an herbal tobacco.

Coltsfoot: Leaves were gathered after all the flowers had disappeared then dried. They were used to treat colds and bronchitis. Infused with honey, relieves asthma and pleurisy. A decoction of crushed leaves is applied to insect bites, ulcers, burns and cuts. Tobacco was made from the leaves mixed other leaves, comfry, beech and chestnut. It was smoked to cure asthma.

Comfrey: Also known as knitbone or boneset. The root is lifted in March, then grated and mashed and the warm pulp used as a poultice to treat inflammations, wounds, insect bites, and sores. It sets up hard just like a plaster cast.

Owen Newman, June 2008